Tottenham Hotspur are trying to sign centre-back Clement Lenglet on loan.
That is according to , who report that Spurs have opened negations with the Catalan club with manager looking to reinforce his backline as he conducts his first in charge of the North London club.
Conte has set Spurs up in his notorious 3-4-3 system since replacing the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo last autumn, and is in the market for a left-sided centre-back this summer in order to take the starting berth most often occupied by left-back Ben Davies last term.
Spurs’ search has led them to Lenglet, who is a left-footed defender with five years’ experience in the Spanish top flight. After spending a single season at Sevilla until 2018, he signed for Barcelona under manager Ernesto Valverde in order to partner Gerard Pique in the centre of defence.
But Lenglet has never convinced since arriving at Camp Nou. In his first season with the Blaugrana, he played 23 La Liga fixtures, and in last season only played 21 times in the league.
The 27-year-old has been displaced in the starting eleven by Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo, and is believed to be open to a move this summer in order to play more regular first-team football.
Lenglet made his France debut in 2019, appearing in a EURO 2020 qualifier against Andorra. He was subsequently called up to the squad for the tournament itself, but was widely derided for his role in the match against Switzerland which saw France knocked out, making an error for the first swiss goal and being substituted by coach Didier Deschamps before half-time.
He and Pique were the two defenders who switched off in the Champions League semi-final second-leg at Anfield in 2019 against Liverpool, allowing Divock Origi to score from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick corner, meaning the Reds met Spurs themselves in the final.
Conte and director of football Fabio Paratici are also hoping to conclude a deal for Everton’s Brazilian forward Richarlison in the coming days.
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